Shaft-coupling.



SHAFT GOUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED DEG. 2s, 190B* Patented NW2, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

` L. A. WLSTMAN.

SHAFT GOUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED 1330.23, 1908.

Patented Nov. 2, 1909.

LEROY A. WESTMAN, l0F CLEVELAND, ORIG.

snare-choeurs.

`Specification of Letters Patent.

Applicationxed lleceniber 23, 1908. Serial No. 468,894. y

T o all whom 'it concem:.

Be it known that I, LEROY'A. WESTMAN, a citizen of the United States of America, re?

siding at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shaft- Couplings; and I do hereby declare the fol.` lowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in shaft-couplings for operatively connecting together two shafts or rotary parts which are adjustable at an angle to each other as well as capable of arrangement in line endwiSe.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a shaft-coupling of the character indicated which works easily and is simple and durable in construction.

Another object` is to facilitate lubrication ofthe parts of the coupling and keep them well lubricated.

With these objects in view, this invention consists in certain features of construction, and combinations of parts, hereinafter described, pointed out in the claims and illus-v strated in the accompanying drawings.

In the said drawings, Figure l is a side yelevation of a shaft-coupling embodying my i invention, and portions are broken away and in section in this figure to more clearly show the construction. F ig.' 2 is a vertical section on line 2-2, Fig. 1,' looking in the direction indicated by the arrow. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on line 3-3, Fig. ,2, looking in the direction indicated by the iarrow. Figs. t and 5 are transverse sections on line 4 4 and line 5-5, respectively, F ig. 2, looking inwardly.

Referring to the dra-wings, A and B indicate two short shafts or shaft-sections which are to be so coupled together that they can be adjusted at different angles to each other as .well as arranged in line endwise as shown.

vMy improved shaft-coupling formed between the shaft-sections A and B comprises a solid ball C which is provided. externally with a recess T which extends circumferentially of the ball in one 'plane and another external recess 8 which extends circumfereir tially of the ball in a plane which is at a -right angle tothe first-mentioned plane.

Preferably the recesses 7 and 8 are annular, extending wholly around the ball, and intersect each other at diametricallye opposite points.

Two segments a and b e age and extend circumferentially of the di erent recesses 7 and 8 respectively and consequently extend circumferentially or" t-he ball C and form a portion of or are operativelyconnected with the different' shaft-sections A and B res ctively. Preferably the segments a an v b extend half way around the ball and have their opposite extremities arranged substaiiraeeneeaivev. a, isos.

tially equidistantly from the center of the shaft-sections A and B respectively.

The inner circumferentially extending surface 9 of the segment a has bearing on the opposing outwardly facing central wall of the recess 7 at opposite sides of the recess 8,

andthe inner circumferentially extending' surface l0 of the segment l) has bearing on the opposing outwardly facing central wall of the recess 8 at opposite sides of the recess 7. rl`he outwardly facing central wallsof the recesses 7 and 8 are flat widthwise of the recesses so as to form a lubricant-holding chamber l2 between the inner circumferentially extending surface of each segment and extending circumferentially of the ball and forming a member of the different shaft-sec* tions respectively, and that each segment has bearing on the opposing outwardly faping central wall ofthe recess circuinfeientially of which thesaid segment extends at oppo` site sides of the other recess circnmferen` tially of which the other segment extends.

` A spherical sheet-metal shell or casing D incases the ball C and has two slots d and d extending circumferent-ially of the casing and arranged to accommodate the location of the shaftwsections a and b and the adjustment of the latter at an angle to each other as well as the illustrated arrangement of the shaftsect-ions in line vendwise. The two slots el and d are formed therefore in diametrically opposite sides of the casing and extend circumferentially of the casing in different planes respectivel'T which are 4at a right a/ning chambers 13 between the external surface of the ball and the internal surface of the casing" at each side of each recess .and between adjacent sides of and in communication with the two recesses.. It will be ob served therefore that lubricant introduced into the recesses 7 and 8 of the'ball through the slots d in the casing becomes distributed throughout the said recesses and connected chambers 13 between the ball and the casing' and to the chambersvl formed between the ball and the innercircumierentially extending` surfaces of the segments. The casing D is pressed or rejects inwardly, as at ll, at the ends fof tie slots (Z and between and a suitable distance from the side walls oi'i' the recesses and 8e The two inwardly projecting portions 'l-t of the casing which are arranged'at opposite ends respectively of a slot extend from opposite ends respectively of the said. slot in opposite directions respectively and in the direction of the other slot in the casing'.

The inwardly projecting portions 14 of the casi-nnr aliford bearing to the outer circumferentially extending surfaces of the sen'- ments a and b.

rllhe casing D is divided centrally, :isnt-15, between the side walls of the recess 7 into two corresponding,r but reversely arranged' sections which are provided at their adjacent ends with laterally-and outwardly projecting, ears 16 and removably secured together at the said ears by suitably applied bolts E and nuts e. i

What l claim is l. In a shatt-couplin,e, the combination, with a ball provided with a recess formed -in and extending circuini'erentially of the ball in one plane and another recess formed in and extending' circumerentially of the ball in a planeA which is at a right angle to the irst-mentionedplane, and two segments engaging and extending circumferentially or i the diii'erent recesses respectively and forming a member of the diilerent shaft-sections respectively which are tol be coupled together, of a spherical casing' which incases the aforesaid ball and has two slots formed in diametrically opposite sides respectively of the casing; and extending; circumteren tially of the casingA in different planes respectively which are at a right angle-to each other and arranged to accommodate the location of the different vshaft-sections respectively and the adjustment of the latter relr ative to each other, said casing being enough larger in internal diameter than the externaldiameter of the ball at the sides of the aforesaid recesses Ato form lubricant receiving chambers between the ball and the casing at the sides of the recesses and in communication with the two recesses.

2. In a shaft-coupling, the combination, with a ball provided with a recess formed in and extending circinnferentially of the ball in one plane and another recess formed in and extending circumferentially of the ball in a plane which is at a right angle to the first-mentioned plane, and two segments engag'ing and extending' circumferentially of the different recesses respectively and formingf a member of the di'li'erent shaft-sections respectively which are to be coupled together, of a spherical casing which incases the aforesaid ball and has two slots formed in diametrieally opposite sides respectively of the casing and extending circumferem' i vother and arranged to accommodate the location of the different shaft-sections respectively and the` adjustment of the latter rel ative to each other, said casing having inwardly projecting' portions overlapping' and extending circumferentially of the vouter circumferentially lextending surfaces of the aforesaid segments.

3. ln a shaft-coupling'the combination, with a ball provided with a recess formed in and extending circumferentially ofthe hall in one plane and another recess formed in and extending circumierentially oi: the

ball in a plane which is at a right angle to the tirstanentioned plane, and two segments engaging; and extending circumferentially of the different-recesses respectively and forming a member of the different shaftsections respectively which are to .be coupled together, ot a spherical casing which incases the aforesaid ball and has two slots formed in diametrically opposite sides respectively of the casing and extending circumferentially of the casing in different planes respectively which are at a right angle to each other and arranged to accommodate' the location of the different shaitsections respectively and the adjustment of the latter relative to each other, said casing having inlwardly projecting,- portions at opposite ends.

respectively of each slot, which portions of, the casing extend from opposite ends rspectively or" the said slot in opposite directions respectively and in the direction of the other slot, and the inwardly projecting portions of the casing affording bearing to the outer circumferentially extending. surfaces of the aforesaid segments.

it. In a shaft-coupling, the combination, withY a ball provided with a recess formed in and extending circnmierentially of the ball in one plane and another recess formed in and extending circumferentially of the ball ina plane which is at a right angle to the rst-mentioned plane, and two segments iisl , receiving chambers betweenthe ball and tliey casmg at the sides of the recesses and 'havls,

engaging and extending circumferentially of the different recesses res ectively and forming amember of the di erent shaft-sections respectively which are to be coupled together, of a spherical casing which incases the aforesaid ball and has two slots formed in diametrically opposite sides respectively of the casing and extending circumferentially of the casing indifferent planes respectively whicli are at a right angle to each` other and arranged to accommodate the location of the different shaft-sections respectively and the adjustment of the latter relative to each other, said casing being enough larger in internal diameter than 'the external diameter'of the ball at thesides ofv the aforesaid "recesses to form "liibricant ing inwardly projecting portions which overlap 'and extend circumferentially of theV outer clrcumferentially extending surfacesI of the aforesaid/segments.

5. In a shaft-coupling, the combination, with a ball provided Witha recess formed in and extending' circumferentially of the ball inlone plane and another recess formed in and extending circumferentially of the' ball in a plane which is at a right angle to the first-mentioned plane, and two segments engaging and extending cn'cumferentially of 'the different recesses respectively and form- .ing a' member of the different shaft-sections respectively which are to y be coupled together, and each segment having bearing on bein enou h lar er in internalv diameter.

than the external diameter of the ball at the sides of the aforesaid recesses to form lubrilcant-receivingv chamhersbetween the -ba-ll,

i and thecasingvatthe sides of the recesses,

said casing having inwardly projecting por1` tions affording bearing to the outer' circum ferentially extending surfaces of the aforesaid segments.

In testimony whereof, I sign the foregoing specification, in the presence of two witnesses.

LEROY A. WEsTMAN.

lVitnesses.

C. H. Donna,

VICTOR C. LYNCH. 

